Photos: Kite-crazy India fills the skies with colour during festivals

Sam Panthaky, AFP/Getty Images01.13.2014

Gujarat state chief minister Narendra Modi (C) flies a kite after inaugurating the International Kite Festival (IKF) in Ahmedabad. The annual festival is organised by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat.

Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

Kites take to the skies during the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India.Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian kite enthusiast takes a photograph of a kite with his cell phone during an international kite festival in Kolkata, India.Dibyangshu Sarkar
/ AFP/Getty Images

A kite enthusiast flies a kite during an international kite festival in Kolkata, India. Indian and international kite-flyers participated in the day-long festival attended by hundreds of kite enthusiasts.Dibyangshu Sarkar
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian kite enthusiast releases a kite in the air during an international kite festival in Kolkata, India. Indian and international kite-flyers participated in the day-long festival attended by hundreds of kite enthusiasts.Dibyangshu Sarkar
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian kite enthusiast tries to keep a kite in the air during an international kite festival in Kolkata, India. Indian and international kite-flyers participated in the day-long festival attended by hundreds of kite enthusiasts.Dibyangshu Sarkar
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian vendor displays kites printed with the portrait of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat state Chief Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Makar Sankranti kite festival in Hyderabad, India. The Makar Sankranti festival celebrates the beginning of the harvest season.Noah Seelam
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian vendor displays kites printed with the portrait of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat state Chief Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Makar Sankranti kite festival in Hyderabad, India. The Makar Sankranti festival celebrates the beginning of the harvest season.Noah Seelam
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian vendor makes kites in her workshop ahead of the forthcoming Makar Sankranti kite festival in Hyderabad, India. The Makar Sankranti festival celebrates the beginning of the harvest season. ANoah Seelam
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian vendor makes kites in her workshop ahead of the Makar Sankranti kite festival in Hyderabad. The Makar Sankranti festival celebrates the beginning of the harvest season.Noah Seelam
/ AFP/Getty Images

Kites fly over visitors during the International Kite Festival near Dhordo village, close to the India-Pakistan border, some 500 kms from Ahmedabad, India. The International Kite Festival is taking place across the state of Gujrat.Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian visitor sits in a car-shaped kite belonging to unseen team members from the Estonian kiteflying team during the International Kite Festival near Dhordo village, close to the India-Pakistan border, some 500 kms from Ahmedabad, India. The International Kite Festival is taking place across the state of Gujrat.Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

A kite flies over visitors during the International Kite Festival near Dhordo village, close to the India-Pakistan border, some 500 kms from Ahmedabad, India. The International Kite Festival is taking place across the state of Gujrat.Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

A Malaysian kite flying team member carries a kite during the International Kite Festival near Dhordo village, close to the India-Pakistan border, some 500 kms from Ahmedabad, India. The International Kite Festival is taking place across the state of Gujrat. AFP PHOTO/Sam PANTHAKYSam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

A Malaysian kite flier holds strings and kites during the International Kite Festival near Dhordo village, close to the India-Pakistan border, some 500 kms from Ahmedabad, India. The International Kite Festival is taking place across the stateSam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

Malaysian kiteflying team members Dina (R) and Azahar (C) fly a kite as they sit on a camel belonging to owner Shamshelbhai (L) during the International Kite Festival near Dhordo village, close to the India-Pakistan border, some 500 kms from Ahmedabad. The International Kite Festival is taking place across the state of Gujrat.Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Indian visitor poses for a photograph with a kite during the International Kite Festival near Dhordo village, close to the India-Pakistan border, some 500 kms from Ahmedabad. The International Kite Festival is taking place across the state of Gujrat.Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

Indian school children from municipal-run schools participate in the 'Surya Namaskar' event during the inaugural ceremony of the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India.Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

Kites take to the sky during the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India.Sam Panthaky
/ AFP/Getty Images

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